Chapter One

“Eh...Shakespeare is very boring.”

It was the words universally said by so many others around the globe. No thought to it, no shame in saying the opinion so carelessly. Of course, people could like what they like. Every mind was different. But, for Isla, it was the one line that made her cringe the hardest.

It wasn’t her first rodeo. Getting prepared and ready, walking to the destination that she and her date (mostly set up by her friend Sarah) agreed to meet up at, sitting for a couple of hours before Isla made the huge decision to reveal her interest in the famous playwright, and all of it ended in a spiral. Every single time. All of the minutes they wasted on conversation, compliments and questions were now not worth the time of the boy she sat across from.

His face read perfectly clear, his features distorting into a grimace. His face alone practically shouted “I knew you were weird and nerdy before, but now it is certain”. Any second now it would be time for him to make some lame excuse to leave and to “be in touch soon”. It never ended up being that way.

Only this time, Isla decided to take matters into her own hands. With a long sigh, the clock read that it was almost time for her photography class...thankfully. The words “I told you so” just itching to fly out and smack Sarah across the face.

“I’m sorry, I have to go...class starts in ten minutes.”

Isla tried to act as if she was actually sorry. Sporting a small frown while awaiting to see how he would react. She didn’t expect much, anyways. Usually always receiving the same look and response. This one was no different.

He remained seated back in the uncomfortable wooden chair that the cafe decorated with, shrugging lazily with eyes that bear no emotion or disappointment. He, too, never wanted to see her again.

Standing up, the boy nodded his head curtly, “We should do this again sometime.” Just like the others, he was quick to leave the coffee shop, never once looking back at her...almost like this whole date was a waste of time. For Isla it most certainly was, it was painfully obvious it would be as soon as she laid eyes on her blind date.

She sat still for a moment, disappointed that it was another let down date. People around didn’t seem to care or even notice, most of the tables were occupied by fellow college mates that attended the same campus that the cafe resided on. Isla felt defeated, alone.

A lady that worked in the shop sadly walked over to her, having watched the whole date unfold before her very eyes. “Would that be all?”

Isla begrudgingly stood up, “Yeah...thank you.”

She handed the barista money to cover her half of the date, not surprised that yet another date had not paid for her as well. They exchanged friendly smiles before it was time for Isla to head out, much to her liking.

New York weather was unpredictable. Today, unlike yesterday, was actually pretty decent. The warm weather would have been enjoyable, if it wasn’t for the sheer fact that Isla cursed Sarah for setting her up with another douche bag. The whole experience put a damper on the rest of the day, as if it were screaming to Isla that she should no longer try and date no more. Too many dates, too many trials, too many let downs.

Life was a never ending cycle for her. Nothing new ever happened. Well, half of it was her own fault. Isla was a rather shy girl, interested in things that were deemed not “cool”. Her mom often referred to her as an old soul. Maybe that’s why college seemed so intimidating. She wished that she could just sit outside amongst the others, conversing and laughing. It would never happen, though. The very thought of doing so just sparked the awkward flame that burned way too often in Isla.

She was conflicted on how to feel when Sarah came into view. She sat under the big oak tree, “studying” just like the others. Jesse had himself plopped on the ground next to her, eyes closed in a way to not even attempt at touching school work. Together, all three of them made a pretty great team. Today, on the other hand, Isla debated on even talking to them. “Hey...Isla!”

Damn it.

Isla begrudgingly made her way across a lawn that was packed with students. Her socially awkward side forced her eyes down to the grass, every little bug or speck of dirt suddenly becoming interesting. Now the choice was to either give Sarah the nice treatment or the stand-offish stubborn side that Isla could easily do.

So, when they finally came face to face, it wasn’t such a hard choice to make. All it took was for her eager friend to sport a timid smile for Isla to almost lose it.

“So...how did it go?” Sarah asked, her and Jessie picking up their belongings from the grass.

No words could be formed, just a look of disgust that formed so quickly on her face that, not even she, could prevent it. Jessie cackled at the sight, patting his friend on the back with remorse.

“Okay,” Sarah groaned. “Was it really that bad?”

Isla walked past them, heading in the general direction of her next class. She tried to let the warm breeze calm her down. To put aside the terrible date that just happened and for once to focus on the hundreds of college students spreaded out anywhere they could find. But, everything seemed to just be some sort of sign that kept proving further that maybe Isla may never find someone who will love her for who she was. It all seemed to stick in her mind just like gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe. Annoying and hard as Hell to get rid of for good. And, when and if you could, remains of it still stayed behind, gathering up other hard to swallow pills.

“Horrible!,” Isla finally huffed out. “He was rude, ignorant, arrogant- And so full of himself!-”

“I’m pretty sure that’s what arrogant means.” Jesse teased.

The comment flew completely over her head, bellowing, “And! He had the nerve to say that Shakespeare is boring!”

“You say that like it’s the first time a guy has said such a thing to you,” Sarah said matter-of-factly. “Why is this one bothering you so much?”

Isla, for all the right reasons, was not in any mood to explain her ongoing feelings about her dating life. It all was fun and games in the beginning. Now, every single date ended up being a let down. She stupidly always got her hopes up and it never ended happily ever after.

“You know what?,” Sarah piped up again. “I’ve come to a conclusion, you’re just undateable!”

Jesse snorted before he could come to his friend’s defense.

“Undateable!?” Isla said incredulously. “You’re the one who has been setting me up with all these guys that clearly have nothing in common with me! You know me...you know my personality. Just because I’m a little old fashioned-”

“Old fashioned! That’s exactly it! Isla, I’m sorry, but Mr. Darcy is not going to come sweep you away to take long walks in a meadow for a date. This is the real world.” It was a poor word choice for it being a “joke”. Sarah meant for it all to be good fun, but Isla couldn’t help but let herself feel offended slightly. Maybe she was right. It wasn’t much to ask for, to have someone else who shared at least one thing in common with Isla’s vintage soul. But, as the three of them walked into their photography classroom, it all seemed to hit her like a train. The room was packed, groups upon groups of students were sitting in their cliques. All Isla had was Sarah and Jesse.

Just two friends. Two friends who she had met accidentally at orientation before first semester. If she hadn’t helped haul a cab and split the cost with them that ended up being way too expensive, would have they even spared a glance in her direction? Nobody else seems to. So, Isla came to her own conclusion. She was the problem.

It made her feel sluggish and embarrassed, completely ignoring the conversation her two friends quickly found themselves in as they scouted for a place to sit.

“Are you two excited that summer break is literally just a few weeks away?” Jesse asked happily, taking a seat.

Sarah, with no hesitation, nodded her head vigorously, “Hell. Yes. I’m exhausted and in need of a break. It truly feels like my brain is fried- thanks to calculus.”

A girl who sat in the row in front of them spoke up, “Did you hear about how Mr. Wallace chills out towards the end of the year?”

Jesse’s eyes lit up suddenly, “Yes! I heard he never gives out much work of projects-” The large pine door made the most ungodly creaking sound that graced everyone’s ear drums whenever opened. Everyday, it was a way of telling the students that their teacher was present in the room. Jesse once joked that it was their equivalent to the “Jaws” music. Isla, besides everyone else who thought he was crazy, actually liked her photography professor. Yes...he may be eccentric. Others may say spacey, but not to the point where it affected

his teaching career. Mr. Wallace just always seemed to be in a chipper mood. Isla could only dream to be that energetic everyday.

Just like everyday, the professor walked over to his wooden desk with a wide, toothy grin as if he was plotting something. The, almost a gallon, thermos joined everyone’s presence as well. It sat proud and strong with steaming coffee.

Maybe that was a clue as to why he was always in top notch energy.

“I know that everyone is getting antsy pants since the end of the school year is...just a hop around the corner!” Mr. Wallace exclaimed with his goofy smile, his dry hands moving in front of his face. “But, last night, I had the greatest idea pop into my cranium while I was feeding my cat!”

What was only intended for a quiet laughter among the students seemed to echo against the large room walls. Their teacher stood confused as to what they all found so amusing. But, nonetheless, he whipped his body around quicker than any other old man could, like it was his greatest mission ever.

What met everyone’s eyes, besides Mr.Wallace’s very own bugging fish like eyes through his glasses, was very much confusing. There, at the front of the room, their teacher held a very old camera and a worn out journal with immense pride. Both objects looked as if they went through Hell and back. The silence took over, for what was displayed held no particular meaning. Although, Mr. Wallace presented it as if it should.

“What the actual fuck?” Jesse whispered loudly. “Has he finally lost it?”

“No!” Mr. Wallace screeched. “I have not lost it! But, I thought, why not end this school year with a HUGE final project!?”

Again, there was silence. Except this silence was less awkward and more angry. Isla wanted to disappear as all eyes seemed to shift to Jesse. He, too, started to sink down into the chair. A few “thanks a lot”s could be heard over others who muttered disagreements. He, along with everyone else, knew he spoke too soon.

“You’re a real moron, you know?” Sarah said, hitting the back of Jesse’s head. Isla felt kind of bad for her professor, noticing all her fellow classmates’ reactions. Sure, Mr. Wallace was literally the definition of “weird”. But, unfortunately, she was too. They were quite similar in that way. People teased them, hated their personalities...avoided them at all costs. It was the first time Isla felt connected to someone other than her two friends.

Yet, the connection did not send any joy throughout her mind nor excitement. A ton of hands flew up into the air at once. Some quick and intense, others slow and unsure if they should even ask the question they had. A boy towards the front was called on first. One of the unsure ones.

“Do I dare to even ask what the project is?”

With a skip in his step, the professor moved closer to the students, “I’m requesting all of you to, by the end of the semester, take a picture- It has to be your own! And I want all of you to just simply...write a story about said picture.”

The chorus of voices that raised to extreme volumes throughout the classroom was nothing compared to Isla’s own internal thoughts. Just by looking at her anyone could tell that she was

panicking. Photography, she could do it. Writing? There was no way in Hell. Writing was the bane of her existence. It killed her to even write a few sentences. Isla found it long, boring and a waste of time. It was the one thing that she struggled with the most in school.

So, when her cheeks heated up in anger, she didn’t stop herself from letting her own hand fly back and hit Jesse’s head as well.

His mouth formed a perfect “o”, but he didn’t say anything to retaliate. He knew he screwed up the minute the words left his mouth.

“The picture can be of anything!” Mr. Wallace raised his voice, overheating some of his students’ questions. “And the story can be of...anything.”

His goofy laugh did nothing to make light of the situation.

“I know it sounds so vague. But, that’s how I want it to be. I don’t want to give much help or direction in this process. Each and every one of your minds all work differently. The way one individual might take a photo may be different to someone else. And, the way someone might perceive that photo, may be different.”

He then preceded back over to the doors he bursted through this morning, flicking the light switch off quickly. A picture of the huge board at the front of the room illuminated the dark space. The picture was rather boring, just of a woman getting into a car. Yet, it seemed to excite Mr. Wallace.

“When I was in college myself, my photography teacher told me that a picture is worth a thousand words. Every mind is its own, so every photo can have a thousand meanings. Or a story if you will. Such as this one…”

He held his arms stretched out towards the photo, like it was the best thing he ever saw in his life. But, as Isla looked around the room, it was no secret that everyone else felt the same way as she did. Heads resting in hands, backs hunched over in a way to desperately stay awake...Isla swore she heard someone snore.

“Now, being straight forward, this is just a lady getting into the back seat of a car. Right? Well, why is she getting into the car?-”

“To go home?” Some kid jokes, earning a few chuckles from his friends.

“Ah! Yes! Where was she previously? Why is she going home?”

Some heads perked up, intrigued now.

“Maybe she is leaving a date…perhaps it didn’t end well?” A girl said.

“She could be stealing something! Trying to get away stealthily-”

“Maybe she murdered someone!”

Sarah snorted loudly at all the possibilities, making the class erupt into laughter. They were all now awake and listening. Certainly, it wasn’t for their interest regarding the project. It seemed to change the mood when the words “Stealing” and “murder” flew about the room.

“Those are...alarming theories. I’ll choose to ignore them,” Mr. Wallace announced. “But seriously, guys, that was great. Many different stories, same picture. Pictures can be the complete opposite of what the photographer is trying to convey. That’s where the stories come into play. In

this project, the picture is just something to admire and look at, it is now the words that hold the meaning.”

The more he talked, the more Isla lost interest in the project. The more he mentioned the word “story”, the more she wanted to vomit. It was a never ending descent into her foreseen breakdown. She had no idea where to even start, besides the photo part. How long should the story be? Would a page suffice? Could she maybe get away with just writing a poem or even a short synopsis of what the story would be?

It was so unlike Isla to groan out loud and have an urge to hit her head against a wall. But, there she was, holding in her outburst. And, if this was the project that made her fail photography class, it would serve no problem in having an argumentative conversation with Mr. Wallace. Or maybe that was just Isla being overdramatic.

“Alright!” Mr. Wallace clapped his hands. “I’m giving you until the last day of the semester! I expect great things from all of you, good luck!”

Next Chapter: Chapter Two